Vishwakarma Award is a thematic challenge to encourage talented student teams to build innovative, deployable prototypes rapidly and with impact. Founded by the © Maker Bhavan Foundation, the award incentivises talented student innovators and tinkerers interested in developing scalable technological solutions that tackle real-world problems that affect the nation and the world.
Open Category
Choose from our main themes and sub-themes to design your own solution.
- Flexibility to identify and define the problem you want to solve.
- Explore creativity and innovation without predefined limits.
- Build a project aligned with pressing societal and technological needs.
Perfect for students who want creative freedom.
Apply Now
Industry Problem Statement
Work on real-world problems defined by leading industry partners.
- Get access to actual problem statements from companies.
- Develop practical solutions with real market applications.
- Opportunity to interact with industry mentors.
Perfect for students who want direct industry exposure.
Apply Now
How it Works
1
FORM A TEAM
And apply for the Vishwakarma Awards with a proposal.
3
MAKE A PROTOTYPE
100 teams will get expert mentor support in prototype development.
4
PITCH
Physical working prototype demonstration at the host IIT.
What Will You Get?
Best Invention: INR 100,000/- (maximum of 3 awardees)
Summer Internship 2026: Participants in the industry problem statement sub-tracks (to be updated soon) may have the opportunity to secure internships.
Certification: All semi-finalist teams will get certificates
Grants: All finalist teams will get INR 30,000/- for prototyping.
LORs: Finalists may also request Letters of Recommendation (LOR) from mentors and selection committee members.
Bootcamp and Finale: 12 finalist teams will spend 3 days at a Maker Bhavan Foundation partner Indian Institute of Technology, receiving intensive entrepreneurial training.
Who is Eligible?
Teams must consist of 2 to 5 undergraduate or postgraduate STEM students. UG and PG students will be evaluated equitably.
Students from India and four SAARC countries: Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
Solutions must have a working prototype by the finale.
How to Register
You can apply for the Vishwakarma Awards 2025 by following this application link.
A team of two to five members is required.
You’ll need to submit a proposal for a prototype idea aligned with one of our selected themes.
Stages
Stage
Activity
Stage 1
Application submission and first shortlisting
Stage 2
Design specification: Submit a PPT deck, no prototype/video required
Stage 3
Prototype development: Submit video + revised deck, virtual jury interviews
Stage 4
Finalist bootcamp + in-person demo at one of MBF's partner IITs
Smart Mobility: Prototyping the Future of Mobility
HealTech: Innovating Healthcare & Assistive Devices
Intelligent Machines: AI Meets Hardware & Manufacturing
Sub Themes
Smart & Inclusive Mobility Solutions
Sensing and Diagnostic Tools
Condition Monitoring, Prognostics and Diagnostics of Systems
Autonomous & Intelligent Transport Systems
Assistive Devices for Daily Living
Cognitive Manufacturing and Automation
Logistics & Industrial Automation
Rehabilitation and Therapy Aids
Sustainable and Energy Efficient Manufacturing
Sustainable & Energy-Efficient EV Innovations
Mental Health & Well-being Tools
Cyber Physical Systems for Manufacturing
Pick and Place using VLA for Collaborative Robot (COBOT) (Inustry Problem Statement)
Organiser
Our Partners
